Back in June I got on to half.com and ordered $100 worth of musicals/classics for our home DVD collection. Our children have limited access to television on Sundays - usually just for Family Home Videos or Bible Stories with the occasional Disney movie or America's Funniest Videos. It occurred to me that with all the video games and advanced movie magic that my kids weren't likely to ever CHOOSE to watch some of the finest movies ever made. How could they ever want to make the choice if they never sat down and were exposed to such classics.
Jon & I decided to add them to our Sunday catalog of acceptable titles. The hope was to have good entertainment available that we could watch together (preferrably after a very relaxing nap - wink). Well, they haven't fallen head over hills with them YET. James keeps asking why they keep breaking out into song - which is my favorite part.
Anyway, I've been in tears watching them - so romantic, so beautifully performed. It's brought me back to my apartment in college with Denise eating animal crackers and laughing so hard my stomach hurt when she introduced me to Singing in the Rain. I don't know how my mom hid that gem from me. Thankfully my kids don't need to wait until they are in their 20s to see the funniest film ever. Even if they think they "caaaaaaaaant stan it."
When James was a baby, we were too frugal to have cable and the antenna picked up nothing. I had a borrowed copy of Oklahoma, a borrowed copy of Raffi's live concert, and one purchased copy of Disney's Tarzan - all on VHS tape. I heard those three movies a bajillion times - knew them each word for word.
If I had to choose my cinema crush, the movie character I most adore, I can't hardly think of anyone that would rival Curly on Oklahoma. His voice gets me all melty inside and his sweet talkin' about taking me for a ride in the surrey with the fringe on top... Just makes me wonder if I was born a few decades past due.
Tonight we watched Sound of Music with the children. I forgot how long it is. So far nobody has made it to the finish - they're falling asleep all over the family room. When I was younger and watched Sound of Music, it was all about the fun music. I also was so charmed by the teenagers dancing on the benches out on the rain - Sixteen Going on Seventeen. Tonight I was so impressed how one woman's genuine personality changed the whole mood of an entire home. Initially Captain Von Trapp wanted her to run things like a ship like he did - whistles and all. But she loved music and running and twirling around with her arms out wide. She was compassionate and nurturing. She brought out the best in people. Made me want to be just like her. Not cast in a role of expectation, but genuine and honest with myself.
I must also note that I miss the days where women and girls wore dresses with soft, floaty fabric that fluttered and was so pretty. Didn't Julie Andrews look beautiful in the light blue dress.
LOL I love this post! I forgot we have a couple of those. I think I will make the movie choice next Sunday! :)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! Old movies are the best...ESPECIALLY old musicals.
ReplyDeleteOur family loves Sound of Music. We don't own a copy but we have seen in on TV and our community put in on last year. Hate to say it but I can't remember if I have seen Singing in the Rain. If so, can't remember. It must be time to go to the video store. Love reading your Marathon Blog.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I have so much to say in response to this post! First of all, what a great idea! Second, musicals were a staple in our home growing up, just like Karen Carpenter and Johnny Denver and Lettermen music :). So I have to make sure you've seen Kismet and Show Boat and State Fair and Meet Me in St. Louis, four of the lesser known but fantastic musicals. I especially love the first three on that list. Kismet...well, it's fantastic. I just have to mention this because you hadn't seen Singing in the Rain until college!!!??? I think I received my own personal copy of that (by request) for my 12th birthday! Okay, now that I have totally revealed just how much of a geek I was (and am) I have to do a follow up comment to your blog post about a book you just read. I finally recalled the perfect book to recommend to you! It's called "These is My Words" and it is up there with Gone with The Wind, only much shorter and easier to read. It's heavenly. Wish there were more like it. Okay, now I'm in the mood to watch a musical!
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